Well, apologies, it certainly was not my intention either to be rude or to teach anyone to suck eggs and, re-reading my post, I do see that it comes across rather as 'and another thing...' . It was unintended, and I apologise for it.

The root problem that we have in the UK is that it is increasingly difficult to own firearms legally, and this has knocked on into the gunsmiths. There has been a great hollowing-out of expertise, as the domestic market is so small as to be effectively non-existent. Our gunsmiths effectively produce rifles for the Americans, the Russians being under an arms embargo and the Chinks not interested. That said, I also think that we are living through a new golden age of double-rifle gunsmithing; what Rigby and Westley Richards, in particular, are producing at the moment is better than anything made before. That is largely down to CNC manufacturing, but the engraving is also excellent. Unfortunately, the engraving is so good and valuable that it makes taking the rifle on an expedition rather dangerous, as one risks substantially devaluing the rifle!

I have considerable doubts about taking a standard M98 action, tarting it up, and selling it as a 'London Best' for silly money. This is particularly so as Mauser has re-started production and will sell you a rifle in .375, .416, or .450. Is there really much point buying the same thing, with the addition of some nice wood and attractive engraving, for the huge sums demanded by Holland or Purdey? I suppose that the answer is yes, if you want to hang it on your wall, and no, if you want to use it.

I am glad that the H&H photos arrived. My Jeffery is rather uninteresting - a standard Mauser action, and no engraving. I am fairly sure that it dates to the Paul Roberts period of ownership. I was supposed to be using both rifles next week tickling buffalo in South Africa. The only particularly interesting thing about it is that the previous owner was obviously a bit of a short-arse, as the stock is so short that when I bring it up, my nose touches the thumb of my right hand!